Popping this much anticipated and fabulously packaged piece of vinyl onto my old record player for the first-time, kindles feelings of optimism. It has been a long year, and now we are into the darker end of 2020. Having lapped up Fleur's previous two singles, I knew that I was in for a treat with her self-titled debut album which is out now on Bickerton Records. Opening track is the uplifting "La Tribu Des Trompette", which gives rise to a severe case of hip-wiggling, oh and when that guitar kicks in during the middle eight, it lets you know that this isn’t just your standard ‘60s copy-cat affair. "Mon Ami Martien" (Fleur’s first single) is an easy-breezy two-minute pop song. Her martian friend, who could it be? It’s kitsch, quirky, and sunny. "Plus De Rouge" is just sublime. If I close my eyes I am strolling through Paris with Alain Delon on a pleasant sunny day (do not wake me up!). Unfortunately my schoolgirl French isn’t what it was, so I can’t fully translate the lyrics, but it matters not, because I’m whisked away somewhere else at the click of a switch, and oh my goodness, don’t we all need that this year? "Etoile Magique" evokes the ghost of Joe Meek, and he’s back to reclaim the song he wishes he’d made! That gently cantering rhythm, the otherworldly lowrey/clavioline-esque organ sound, coupled with Fleur’s dulcet tones, again making pop-beat perfection. There is the obligatory kooky ode to "Monsieur Dracula", which has a bouncy rhythm à la Rhubarb & Custard. Ever wondered what The Electric Prunes would sound like with a female singer? Well now you don’t have to because "Moi et Toi, Toi et Moi" brings you just that; unadulterated psych-pop goodness. The album wraps up with Fleur's 2nd single "Petit De Homme Papier" and you can read about that here… In summary, Fleur, and her backing band Les Robots present a sound that is the musical equivalent of spring and summer (circa 1966 of course). Authentic yet modern, the reverberations of which fill my room full of sunshine, tulips, daffodils, and breathe new life into a very familiar sound. Even my cat Sandy is purring along! Outstanding.
- Ms Sheringham-Boom, December 2020
You can order the album from Fleur's Bandcamp site here and for more information check out the Fleur Facebook page here. You can hear a track from the album and Fleur's other band The Colour Collection in Retrosonic Podcast Episode 39. With thanks to Ms Sheringham-Boom. Ms Sheringham-Boom is the bassist in Edinburgh's premier purveyors of Garage Rock, Thee Girl Fridays.
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